India-natural Resources

The soil found in the Arid Zone is known as Desert soil. It is found mostly in Rajasthan, Kutch region of Gujarat and south Punjab. This soil is highly infertile.

The Monsoon forests are otherwise called as Deciduous forest. The average annual rainfall in these forests ranges between 70 cm and 200 cm. The trees in these forests shed their leaves during the spring and early summer. Some of the important trees in these forests are Teak, Sal, Sisam, Sandal Wood, Neem and Wattle.

Uranium is found in monazite sand which is the coastal sand of Kerala.

i. Black soil is ideal for cotton cultivation. Black soil is formed due to weathering of igneous rocks and it is found in the valleys of the Godavari, Krishna, Narmada and Tapti.

ii. Lignite is one of the ores of coal which is extracted in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu. Mangrove resources are found in the coastal areas flooded by the tides. These forests are very dense. In West Bengal they are called Sundarbans.

iii. Renewable resources are those which can be easily replenished in some time.

iv. Paddy is an example of the renewable resources as it takes a short time for renewal.

v. Non-Renewable resources are those which cannot be replaced again after use. Coal and petroleum are non-renewable resources as they cannot be renewed easily.

The materials which are obtained from the nature to fulfill the daily needs of our life are the Natural resources. Some of the important examples of the natural resources are Sunlight, Soil, Land, Air, Water, Soil, Minerals, Petroleum, coal, Plants, and animals. All these are necessary for the survival of human beings. Natural Resources are of two types, Renewable resources, and Non-renewable resources.

The fertility of soil depends on the number of nutrients present in it, to support the growth of plants. Fertility of soil is determined by the presence of ‘micro nutrients’ like sulphur, chlorine, copper, boron, Iron, zinc, cobalt and ‘macro nutrients’ like potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus in it. Soil fertility increases with the increase of humus content, which is the organic material present in soils produced by the decomposition of plants and animal matter.

Four main characteristics of the Tropical evergreen forests are as follows:

a. These forests are found in the areas which receive an average annual rainfall of more than 200 cm.

b. The trees in these forests are very tall which reach up to the height of above 60 meters.

c. These forests are very dense due to which sunlight cannot reach the ground which results in the growth of bamboos, ferns, and climbers.

d. Some of the important trees found in these forests are Rose wood, Ebony, Mahogany, Lianas, Bamboo, Cinchona, and Rubber.

a. Shrub and thorn forests are primarily found in the areas which receive an average annual rainfall of less than 75 cm with the long dry season.

b. In these forests, the trees follow a scattered pattern which means these forests are not dense. The leaves on trees are thick and small due to which the rate of evaporation is slowed down and their bark is thick and thorny.

c. Some of the important trees are Palms, Cacti, Babul, Khair, Khagri, Kajuri, Palas, and Acacia. These forests are found in the north western part of India mostly in semi-arid regions of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Western Haryana.

d. These forests are also found on the leeward sides of the Western Ghats which cover vast areas of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan are the major producers of mica in India. India produces about 60% of the mica in the world. Mica is used in the manufacture of electrical goods because it is a bad conductor of electricity.

Forests are a source of timber which is widely used for both domestic and commercial purposes and it is also used as a raw material for industries. Some of the important products which we get from forests are Resins, Medicines, Honey, Herbs, Gum, Spices, Lac and Tanning materials. Forest products also help the economy by earning foreign exchange. Forests also support dairy farming as they provide vast grasslands for grazing cattle. Some forest reserves have developed as a great attraction for tourists. They also control air pollution by absorbing the atmospheric carbon-di-oxides. Forests are also helpful in controlling the floods and soil erosion. Through water, percolation forests help in maintaining the underground water table. Forests are a natural habitat for various primitive tribes and animals. They act as the moderators of climate and affect rainfall, temperature, and humidity. At last but not the least forests meet around 40% of the energy needs of our nation.

It is true to say that nature provides us various resources in order to fulfill the basic needs but the irony is that we are overexploiting available resources and if we continue to follow this pattern there will be no resources available for the future generations. So there is a need to frame and implement a policy through which we can conserve the natural resources. Some of the important needs are as follows:

a. To maintain the ecological balance and this in turn supports different forms of life.

b. Helpful in the preservation of different endangered species.

c. To ensure the availability of resources for the present and future generations.

d. To guarantee the existence of human beings.